North Slope Borough, Alaska Demographics 2026

Name: North Slope Borough, Alaska Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

North Slope Borough, Alaska has a population of 10,810, the 9th most populous county in Alaska. The median household income is $95,694 and the median home value is $218,300. The poverty rate is 11.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

North Slope Borough Quick Facts

Population 10,810

Median Household Income $95,694

Median Home Value $218,300

Poverty Rate 11.1%

Unemployment Rate 7.6%

Median Age 35.0 years

Homeownership Rate 49.1%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 15.6%

High School Graduation 87.3%

Cities/Places 9

Population 10,810 9th of 30

Median Income $95,694 3% higher than state

Poverty Rate 11.1%

Unemployment 7.6%

How North Slope Borough Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	10,891	10,810	-0.7%
Median household income	$86,313	$95,694	+10.9%
Median home value	$219,600	$218,300	-0.6%

Median Household Income

North Slope Borough

$95,694

$92,788

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

North Slope Borough

$218,300

$352,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.6%

$25K-$50K 16.3%

$50K-$100K 25.7%

$100K+ 47.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.3%

$10K-$15K

1.4%

$15K-$20K

2.0%

$20K-$25K

0.9%

$25K-$30K

3.2%

$30K-$35K

1.7%

$35K-$40K

3.8%

$40K-$45K

3.6%

$45K-$50K

3.9%

$50K-$60K

4.7%

$60K-$75K

8.4%

$75K-$100K

12.6%

$100K-$125K

8.6%

$125K-$150K

8.3%

$150K-$200K

7.4%

$200K+

23.2%

Employment

7.6% Unemployment Rate State: 5.9%|National: 5.2%

74.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 49.1%

Renter 50.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,254/mo 15.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

25.7%

18-34

24.3%

35-54

28.6%

55-74

19.7%

75+

1.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 63 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in North Slope Borough

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Utqiaġvik	4,778	$115,313	11.0%	$311,400
Prudhoe Bay	1,664	N/A	6.3%	N/A
Point Hope	832	$74,844	20.0%	$167,000
Wainwright	718	$93,750	12.0%	$117,000
Nuiqsut	616	$78,438	21.1%	$140,400
Point Lay	390	$104,063	14.4%	$119,100
Anaktuvuk Pass	329	$95,500	8.8%	$145,000
Atqasuk	288	$90,625	13.9%	$122,200
Kaktovik	124	$93,750	25.0%	$97,100

Explore Alaska Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

North Slope Borough is located in Alaska with a total population of 10,810. It is the 9th most populous county out of 30 in Alaska. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in North Slope Borough is 35.0 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 35.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in North Slope Borough is $95,694. This is 3% higher than the state median of $92,788. It is also 19% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 7.6%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 5.9%. The median home value is $218,300. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $352,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, North Slope Borough is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 49.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

North Slope Borough is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.4%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

15.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 31.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for North Slope Borough come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Alaska and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of North Slope Borough, Alaska?

North Slope Borough has a population of 10,810, making it the 9th most populous county in Alaska.

What is the median income in North Slope Borough?

The median household income in North Slope Borough is $95,694 with a poverty rate of 11.1%.

How many cities are in North Slope Borough, Alaska?

North Slope Borough contains 9 Census-designated places.